How to Clean Your Food Weighing Scale

Food weighing scales are among the most important weighing instruments when it comes to keeping things clean. Using dirty a scale or balance when weighing food items can be unhygienic, which in turn can lead to cross contamination, failure to meet food hygiene standards or even serious harm to customers and users.

With the importance of good hygiene practises in food preparation environments, it’s crucial to understand the best ways in which to make your food scales sparkle.

Why is it important to keep your food weighing scale clean?

Let’s look at this in more detail. It is said that the average chopping board or kitchen surface can contain as much as 200% more bacteria than the average toilet seat… which I’m sure you’ll agree is very unsettling. A food weighing scale is absolutely no different and should be cleaned down as regularly as necessary to ensure that good hygiene levels are maintained to be in line with food standards safety regulations. Health inspections are commonplace in kitchens and catering facilities, so it’s important to always keep equipment and workstations as clean as possible.

Not only this, but using dirty weighing equipment can cause cross contamination, which in the case of meat and fish can not only be unfavourable, but potentially harmful to both users and customers. Helping to keep the spread of any harmful bacteria from spreading around your kitchen will mean workers and customers are less likely to get sick, which in turn will boost the number of customers coming through your doors thanks to less negative reviews.

Keeping your food weighing scales clean is also a great way to ensure that they last longer, as food debris and liquid are prevented from clogging up or entering the scale. Not only this, but regular cleaning also allows you to spot any particular problems such as damage or wearing as early as possible.  

Does the IP rating matter when cleaning?

The short answer is yes - before cleaning your food weighing scales it’s hugely important to know what the IP rating is of your weighing device. This rating determines the level of protection from liquid and solid ingress, but in this instance specifically lets you know the correct methods for cleaning your weighing instrument without causing damage. Below is a simple guide to follow of the two most important IP ratings:

No IP rating specified – A none-IP rated weighing scale simply means it has no protection from water or solid ingress.

IP65 – IP66 – This IP rating is what we would consider splashproof – it can deal with being sprayed down and wiped but nothing more.

IP67 and above – This IP rating signals that the food scale can be fully submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at a time without receiving any damage.

This is only a brief overview of IP ratings, but for more information you can read our ‘IP Ratings Explained’ blog post.

How do you clean a food scale?

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that all food scales are different and it’s always recommended that users read and understand the operating instructions on your instrument. We would also strongly advise on the use of correct safety equipment such as gloves, aprons and goggles when dealing with cleaning equipment, as some can be hazardous if they come into contact with eyes or skin.

Start the process by ensuring sure your food weighing weighing scale is switched off. It’s also important to remember to remove any power cables that could prevent the instrument from being fully waterproof. Some food weighing scales have a detachable weighing pan that can be removed and cleaned thoroughly, such as the ABW from Adam Equipment.

Using a mild detergent that will not cause damage and warm water users can begin to wash their animal scale using a cloth to wipe the necessary components. For cleaning dirt, dust or other solids, its recommended that users do not blow the subjects away as this could cause it to go inside the internals of the scale.

For any further information on how to keep your food scales clean, please speak with a member of our team on 01908 972660 or contact us here.

You can also see our full range of food weighing scales here.